Tribute to Fr. Peter Sanders, SCJ

There’s an old saying that goes something like this: ‘If you want something done ask a busy person.’

In 1987 in the basement of the Cathedral Church, during a get together, as the story goes, Archbishop Plourde informed Fr. Peter Sanders that the Ottawa Separate School Board wanted him to take on the role of chaplain.

Peter asked for some time to consider the request as he was not only teaching full-time at St. Paul University, but he was also the Provincial Superior of the community and pastor of Holy Rosary Parish! Within minutes of the encounter with the Archbishop, the board chairperson thanked him for his willingness to accept the position. The rest is history as they say.

Peter served as chaplain to the Ottawa Separate School Board for 3 years and then with the amalgamated Ottawa-Carleton Board from September of 1990 until June of 2025 when he officially retired and was feted for his many years of dedicated service.

His duties involved attending board meetings twice monthly, celebrating Eucharist for board members and students, giving lectures and facilitating workshops for teachers and administrators, attending yearly conferences for principals and vice-principals and the annual Christian community day.

Over the years he made many friends and touched the lives of countless men and women as he lived out his own unique baptismal journey. Congratulations on your retirement and well done, good and faithful servant. You will be a tough act to follow!

Fr. Paul Tennyson, SCJ